The DOI matches its Crossref record; 87 of the 91 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Explaining Development and Change in Organizations
Abstract
This article introduces four basic theories that may serve as building blocks for explaining processes of change in organizations: life cycle, teleology, dialectics, and evolution. These four theories represent different sequences of change events that are driven by different conceptual motors and operate at different organizational levels. This article identifies the circumstances when each theory applies and proposes how interplay among the theories produces a wide variety of more complex theories of change and development in organizational life.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“Like technology-based organizations (Kazanjian, 1988), DPEs undergo stages of creation, growth, persistence, and decline (McIntyre & Srinivasan, 2017;van de Ven & Poole, 1995).”
From Digital platform ecosystems in flux: From proprietary digital platforms to wide-spanning ecosystems (2023) · cites this paper as van de Ven & Poole, 1995
Citations
Cites
Armstrong, J. S., & Georgoff, D. M. (1988) · International Journal of Forecasting · doi:10.1016/0169-2070(88)90019-2 · Cited by 18,339
Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy
Fukuyama, F., & Schumpeter, J. A. (1997) · Foreign Affairs · doi:10.2307/20048211 · Cited by 15,349
The Social Construction of Reality
Rose, D. M., Berger, P. L., & Luckmann, T. (1967) · Modern Language Journal · doi:10.2307/323448 · Cited by 13,850
The Social Psychology of Organizations.
Hackman, J. R., Katz, D., & Kahn, R. L. (1979) · Administrative Science Quarterly · doi:10.2307/2989929 · Cited by 12,243
Research in Organizational Behavior.
Grimes, A. J., Cummings, L. L., & Staw, B. M. (1986) · Administrative Science Quarterly · doi:10.2307/2392975 · Cited by 11,303
(1969) · Virtual Defense Library (Ministerio de Defensa) · Cited by 10,735
Social Theory and Social Structure
Ross, E. J., & Merton, R. Κ. (1958) · The American Catholic Sociological Review · doi:10.2307/3709394 · Cited by 10,318
(1951) · Cited by 8,693
A Garbage Can Model of Organizational Choice
Cohen, M. D., March, J. G., & Olsen, J. P. (1972) · Administrative Science Quarterly · doi:10.2307/2392088 · Cited by 8,259
The Population Ecology of Organizations
Hannan, M. T., & Freeman, J. (1977) · American Journal of Sociology · doi:10.1086/226424 · Cited by 7,563
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 701–800 of 999
Patient surveys—A key to organizational change?
Riiskjær, E., Ammentorp, J., Nielsen, J. F., & Kofoed, P. (2009) · Patient Education and Counseling · doi:10.1016/j.pec.2009.08.017 · Cited by 49
Corporate entrepreneurship in a dispersed setting: actors, behaviors, and process
Belousova, O., & Gailly, B. (2013) · International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal · doi:10.1007/s11365-013-0259-2 · Cited by 48
From legitimacy to impact: Moving the field forward by asking how entrepreneurship informs life
Lumpkin, G. T. (2011) · Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal · doi:10.1002/sej.104 · Cited by 48
Turbulence in Organizations: New Metaphors for Organizational Research
Polley, D. E. (1997) · Organization Science · doi:10.1287/orsc.8.5.445 · Cited by 48
The Dynamics of Boundary Objects, Social Infrastructures and Social Identities
Gal, U., Yoo, Y., & Boland, R. J. (2005) · Cited by 47
Beldi, A., Cheffi, W., & Dey, P. K. (2010) · International Journal of Project Management · doi:10.1016/j.ijproman.2009.12.004 · Cited by 53
Process management in hospitals: an empirically grounded maturity model
Cleven, A., Winter, R., Wortmann, F., & Mettler, T. (2014) · BuR - Business Research · doi:10.1007/s40685-014-0012-x · Cited by 49
Open Service Innovation in the Global Banking Industry: Inside-Out Versus Outside-In Strategies
Gianiodis, P. T., Ettlie, J. E., & Urbina, J. J. (2013) · Academy of Management Perspectives · doi:10.5465/amp.2012.0126 · Cited by 47
Hodgson, G., & Knudsen, T. (2008) · Journal of Bioeconomics · doi:10.1007/s10818-008-9030-0 · Cited by 53
Service response to economic decline: Innovation actions for achieving strategic renewal
Martin‐Rios, C., & Parga‐Dans, E. (2016) · Journal of Business Research · doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2015.12.058 · Cited by 50
Nwanzu, C. L., & Babalola, S. S. (2019) · International Journal of Engineering Business Management · doi:10.1177/1847979019827149 · Cited by 47
Staying Alive: Toward a Diverging Consensus Model of Overcoming a Bias Against Novelty in Groups
Harvey, S., & Mueller, J. (2021) · Organization Science · doi:10.1287/orsc.2020.1384 · Cited by 50
What Is “This” a Case of? Generative Theorizing for Disruptive Times
Langley, A. (2021) · Journal of Management Inquiry · doi:10.1177/10564926211016545 · Cited by 52
Strategic Alliances as Social Facts
de Rond, M., & Huff, A. (2003) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511488559 · Cited by 70
A dialectical perspective on burnout and engagement
Leon, M. R., Halbesleben, J. R. B., & Paustian‐Underdahl, S. C. (2015) · Burnout Research · doi:10.1016/j.burn.2015.06.002 · Cited by 63
Baldrige Assessment and Organizational Learning: The Need for Change Management
Ford, M. W., & Evans, J. R. (2001) · Quality Management Journal · doi:10.1080/10686967.2001.11918963 · Cited by 47
Potosky, D., & Azan, W. (2022) · Human Resource Management Review · doi:10.1016/j.hrmr.2022.100927 · Cited by 46
Matthyssens, P., Vandenbempt, K., & Bockhaven, W. V. (2013) · Industrial Marketing Management · doi:10.1016/j.indmarman.2013.02.008 · Cited by 52
Value Dynamics: Towards a Framework for Analyzing Public Value Changes
Jørgensen, T. B., & Vrangbæk, K. (2011) · International Journal of Public Administration · doi:10.1080/01900692.2011.583776 · Cited by 49
Schilling, A., Werr, A., Gand, S., & Sardas, J.-C. (2011) · Service Industries Journal · doi:10.1080/02642069.2010.531269 · Cited by 46
Kaizen event approach: a case study in the packaging industry
Vo, B., Kongar, E. A., & Suárez‐Barraza, M. F. (2019) · International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management · doi:10.1108/ijppm-07-2018-0282 · Cited by 46
Content and Process Approaches to Studying Strategy and Management Control Systems
Chenhall, R. H. (2005) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780199283231.003.0002 · Cited by 46
The uncertain search for opportunities: determinants of strategic alliances
Beverland, M., & Bretherton, P. (2001) · Qualitative Market Research An International Journal · doi:10.1108/13522750110388581 · Cited by 46
Gardner, H. K., Anand, N., & Morris, T. (2007) · SSRN Electronic Journal · Cited by 46
Problem Solving in Organizations: A Methodological Handbook for Business and Management Students
van Aken, J. E., Berends, H., & van der Bij, H. (2012) · TU/e Research Portal · doi:10.1017/9781108236164 · Cited by 45
Parente, R., de Melo, M. S., Andrews, D. S., Kumaraswamy, A., & de Vasconcelos, F. C. (2020) · Journal of International Business Studies · doi:10.1057/s41267-020-00325-x · Cited by 48
Organizational Change in Schools
Beycioğlu, K., & Kondakçı, Y. (2020) · ECNU Review of Education · doi:10.1177/2096531120932177 · Cited by 45
Conceptual Contributions in Marketing Scholarship: Patterns, Mechanisms, and Rebalancing Options
Kindermann, B., Wentzel, D., Antons, D., & Salge, T. O. (2023) · Journal of Marketing · doi:10.1177/00222429231196122 · Cited by 45
Huang, J., Baležentis, T., Shen, S., & Štreimikienė, D. (2023) · Journal of Innovation & Knowledge · doi:10.1016/j.jik.2023.100452 · Cited by 45
Kondakçı, Y., & Broeck, H. V. D. (2009) · Higher Education · doi:10.1007/s10734-009-9204-2 · Cited by 45
Girod, S. J. G., & Whittington, R. (2015) · Organization Science · doi:10.1287/orsc.2015.0993 · Cited by 46
Critical Perceptions of Organisational Change
DiBella, A. J. (2007) · Journal of Change Management · doi:10.1080/14697010701649707 · Cited by 45
Navigating the Complexities of Undergraduate Medical Curriculum Change: Change Leaders’ Perspectives
Velthuis, F., Varpio, L., Helmich, E., Dekker, H., & Jaarsma, D. A. D. C. (2018) · Academic Medicine · doi:10.1097/acm.0000000000002165 · Cited by 45
Changes in roles, responsibilities and ownership in organizing master data management
Vilminko-Heikkinen, R., & Pekkola, S. (2019) · International Journal of Information Management · doi:10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2018.12.017 · Cited by 46
Ferns, G., Lambert, A., & Günther, M. (2021) · Academy of Management Journal · doi:10.5465/amj.2018.0615 · Cited by 44
Dolmans, S. A. M., van Galen, W. P. L., Walrave, B., den Ouden, E., Valkenburg, R., & Romme, A. G. L. (2023) · Organization Studies · doi:10.1177/01708406231169422 · Cited by 53
The relationship of digital transformation and corporate sustainability: Synergies and tensions
Ologeanu‐Taddei, R., Hönigsberg, S., Weritz, P., Wache, H., Mittermeier, F., Tana, S., Dang, D., Hautala-Kankaanpää, T., & Pekkola, S. (2024) · Technological Forecasting and Social Change · doi:10.1016/j.techfore.2024.123809 · Cited by 60
Value creation from the innovation environment: partnership strategies in university spin‐outs
Lubik, S., Garnsey, E. W., Minshall, T., & Platts, K. (2013) · R and D Management · doi:10.1111/radm.12006 · Cited by 44
An empirical evaluation of existing IS change theories for the case of IOIS evolution
Reimers, K., Johnston, R. B., & Klein, S. P. (2013) · European Journal of Information Systems · doi:10.1057/ejis.2013.7 · Cited by 44
Jansen, K. J., Shipp, A. J., & Michael, J. H. (2015) · Personnel Psychology · doi:10.1111/peps.12120 · Cited by 52
Strategic transformations in the media
Oliver, J. (2018) · Journal of Media Business Studies · doi:10.1080/16522354.2018.1546088 · Cited by 43
Martin, A., Weisenfeld, U., & Bekmeier‐Feuerhahn, S. (2009) · management revue · doi:10.5771/0935-9915-2009-2-117 · Cited by 44
Organizational improvisation and change: two syntheses and a filled gap
Cunha, M. P. E., & da Cunha, J. V. (2003) · Journal of Organizational Change Management · doi:10.1108/09534810310468143 · Cited by 44
Organizational Innovations and Economic Growth
Sanidas, E. (2005) · Edward Elgar Publishing eBooks · doi:10.4337/9781845425685 · Cited by 44
Tuomi, A., & Ascenção, M. P. (2021) · Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights · doi:10.1108/jhti-07-2021-0175 · Cited by 53
Relation between Organizational Capacity for Change and Readiness for Change
Mladenova, I. (2022) · Administrative Sciences · doi:10.3390/admsci12040135 · Cited by 43
Organizational change towards the circular economy: A systematic review of the literature
Graessler, S. F., Guenter, H., de Jong, S. B., & Henning, K. (2024) · International Journal of Management Reviews · doi:10.1111/ijmr.12367 · Cited by 54
Theorising scenario analysis to improve future perspective planning in tourism
Moriarty, J. P. (2012) · Journal of Sustainable Tourism · doi:10.1080/09669582.2012.673619 · Cited by 43
Les cadres intermediaires au cœur du sensemaking
Guilmot, N., & Vas, A. (2012) · Revue internationale de Psychosociologie · doi:10.3917/rips1.045.0077 · Cited by 43
Challenges and Strategies for Conducting International Public Management Research
Eglene, O., & Dawes, S. S. (2006) · Administration & Society · doi:10.1177/0095399706291816 · Cited by 43
Paré, G. (2015) · The Qualitative Report · doi:10.46743/2160-3715/2002.1966 · Cited by 43
Persistence and Change in System Development: A Dialectical View
Sabherwal, R., & Newman, M. (2003) · Journal of Information Technology · doi:10.1080/0268396032000101144 · Cited by 44
Organizational Routines in Evolutionary TheoryPreprint
Knudsen, T. (2007) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.997439 · Cited by 42
Continuous improvement implementation models: a reconciliation and holistic metamodel
Lameijer, B. A., de Boer, H. F., Antony, J., & Does, R. J. M. M. (2021) · Production Planning & Control · doi:10.1080/09537287.2021.1974114 · Cited by 42
Responsible AI in Marketing: AI Booing and AI Washing Cycle of AI Mistrust
Öztürkcan, S., & Bozdağ, A. A. (2025) · International Journal of Market Research · doi:10.1177/14707853251379285 · Cited by 65
The Physical Environment of the Office: Contemporary and Emerging Issues
Davis, M. C., Leach, D. J., & Clegg, C. W. (2012) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781118311141.ch6 · Cited by 44
Decline and turnaround: a literature review and proposed research agenda for the hotel sector
Solnet, D., Paulsen, N., & Cooper, C. (2010) · Current Issues in Tourism · doi:10.1080/13683500802638219 · Cited by 42
Design and Implementation of a Performance Measurement System in Swedish Health Care Services
Kollberg, B., Elg, M., & Lindmark, J. (2005) · Quality Management in Health Care · doi:10.1097/00019514-200504000-00005 · Cited by 42
From management controls to the management of controls
Tessier, S., & Otley, D. T. (2012) · Accounting Auditing & Accountability Journal · doi:10.1108/09513571211234259 · Cited by 42
Innovation in management system by Six Sigma: an empirical study of world‐class companies
Azis, Y., & Osada, H. (2010) · International Journal of Lean Six Sigma · doi:10.1108/20401461011074991 · Cited by 42
Fernald, K., Pennings, E., van den Bosch, J. F., Commandeur, H. R., & Claassen, E. (2017) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0172488 · Cited by 42
Idea Generation in Enterprise Social Media: Open versus Closed Groups and Their Network Structures
Osch, W. V., & Bulgurcu, B. (2020) · Journal of Management Information Systems · doi:10.1080/07421222.2020.1831760 · Cited by 49
Hoorani, B. H., Plakoyiannaki, E., & Gibbert, M. (2022) · Journal of World Business · doi:10.1016/j.jwb.2022.101369 · Cited by 48
Strategic orientation of high-technology firms in a transitional economy
Lau, C., Yiu, D. W., Yeung, P.-K., & Lü, Y. (2007) · Journal of Business Research · doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2007.07.031 · Cited by 42
The relative effect of change drivers in large-scale organizational change: An empirical study
Whelan‐Berry, K. S., Gordon, J. R., & Hinings, C. R. (2004) · Research in organizational change and development · doi:10.1016/s0897-3016(03)14081-5 · Cited by 48
Strategic Alliances as Social Facts: Business, Biotechnology, and Intellectual History
de Rond, M., & Huff, A. (2003) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 42
Making Sense of Formalization in Interorganizational Relationships: Beyond Coordination and Control
Vlaar, P. W. L. (2006) · EUR Research Repository (Erasmus University Rotterdam) · Cited by 42
Software appropriation over time: from adoption to stabilization and beyond
Mendoza, A., Carroll, J. M., & Stern, L. (2010) · AJIS. Australasian journal of information systems/AJIS. Australian journal of information systems/Australian journal of information systems · doi:10.3127/ajis.v16i2.507 · Cited by 46
Vieru, D., & Rivard, S. (2014) · International Journal of Information Management · doi:10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2014.02.001 · Cited by 47
Extent and scope of diffusion and adoption of process innovations in management accounting systems
Sisaye, S., & Birnberg, J. G. (2010) · International Journal of Accounting and Information Management · doi:10.1108/18347641011048110 · Cited by 42
Narrative as an organizing process: identity and story in a new nonprofit
Herrmann, A. F. (2011) · Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management An International Journal · doi:10.1108/17465641111188411 · Cited by 41
Theoretical Approaches to Study SMEs eBusiness Progression
Mendo, F. A., & Fitzgerald, G. (2005) · Journal of Computing and Information Technology · doi:10.2498/cit.2005.02.04 · Cited by 41
Rhydderch, M., Edwards, A., Elwyn, G. J., Marshall, M., Engels, Y., van den Hombergh, P., & Grol, R. P. T. M. (2005) · Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2753.2005.00544.x · Cited by 41
Trustworthiness Change and Relationship Continuity after Contract Breach in Financial Supply Chains
Ta, H., Esper, T. L., Ford, K., & García-Dastugue, S. J. (2018) · Journal of Supply Chain Management · doi:10.1111/jscm.12180 · Cited by 41
Determinants of dynamic process of emerging ICT adoption in SMEs – actor network theory perspective
Eze, S. C., Chinedu-Eze, V. C., & Bello, A. O. (2018) · Journal of Science and Technology Policy Management · doi:10.1108/jstpm-02-2018-0019 · Cited by 45
Massi, M., Rod, M., & Corsaro, D. (2020) · Journal of Business and Industrial Marketing · doi:10.1108/jbim-01-2020-0029 · Cited by 42
Ford, M. W., & Greer, B. M. (2005) · Journal of Change Management · doi:10.1080/14697010500036031 · Cited by 41
Adopting or adapting? The tension between local and international mindsets in Portuguese management
Cunha, M. P. E. (2005) · Journal of World Business · doi:10.1016/j.jwb.2005.02.004 · Cited by 46
The interplay between cognitive styles and organisational change
Djurisic-Bojanovic, M. (2016) · Journal of East European Management Studies · doi:10.5771/0949-6181-2016-1-35 · Cited by 38
Holistic View of Intuition and Analysis in Leadership Decision-Making and Problem-Solving
Hallo, L., & Nguyen, T. (2021) · Administrative Sciences · doi:10.3390/admsci12010004 · Cited by 53
Cornelissen, J., & Kaandorp, M. (2022) · Journal of Management Studies · doi:10.1111/joms.12897 · Cited by 44
E-government Stage Models: A Contextual Critique
Debri, F., & Bannister, F. (2015) · Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS) · doi:10.1109/hicss.2015.266 · Cited by 40
Kee, K. F., Sparks, L., Struppa, D. C., & Mannucci, M. A. (2013) · Communication Quarterly · doi:10.1080/01463373.2012.719566 · Cited by 40
Organizational Design in Public Administration: Categorization of Project Management Offices
Aubry, M., & Brunet, M. (2016) · Project Management Journal · doi:10.1177/875697281604700508 · Cited by 40
A process model of the maturation of a new dynamic capability
Tran, Y., Zahra, S. A., & Hughes, M. (2018) · Industrial Marketing Management · doi:10.1016/j.indmarman.2018.11.009 · Cited by 43
Wilden, R., Hohberger, J., Devinney, T. M., & Lumineau, F. (2019) · Journal of Management Studies · doi:10.1111/joms.12531 · Cited by 46
Internationalization of the firm: A discourse-based view
Treviño, L. J., & Doh, J. P. (2020) · Journal of International Business Studies · doi:10.1057/s41267-020-00344-8 · Cited by 40
MANAGING CHANGE IN SUPPLY CHAINS: A PROCESS COMPARISON
Greer, B. M., & Ford, M. W. (2009) · Journal of Business Logistics · doi:10.1002/j.2158-1592.2009.tb00111.x · Cited by 40
Toward innovation capability maturity
Essmann, H. (2009) · Cited by 40
Varieties of Dialectic Change Processes
Nielsen, R. P. (1996) · Journal of Management Inquiry · doi:10.1177/105649269653014 · Cited by 40
Jafar, R. M. S., Zhu, J., Crabbe, M. J. C., Yue, G. X.-G., & Yang, Y. (2024) · Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research · doi:10.1080/10941665.2024.2343076 · Cited by 41
The general education initiative in Hong Kong: organized contradictions and emerging tensions
Jaffee, D. (2011) · Higher Education · doi:10.1007/s10734-011-9487-y · Cited by 39
Lyytinen, K., Keil, T. J., & Fomin, V. V. (2008) · International Journal of IT Standards and Standardization Research · doi:10.4018/jitsr.2008010101 · Cited by 40
Reflections: Return Paradox to the Wild? Paradox Interventions and Their Implications
Fairhurst, G. T. (2018) · Journal of Change Management · doi:10.1080/14697017.2018.1552505 · Cited by 39
Innovation in supply networks—A research framework and roadmap
Kumar, S., Narayanan, S., & Salvador, F. (2020) · Journal of Operations Management · doi:10.1002/joom.1122 · Cited by 39
Strategic transformation process: Toward purpose, people, process and power
Davis, E. B., Kee, J. E., & Newcomer, K. E. (2010) · Organization Management Journal · doi:10.1057/omj.2010.6 · Cited by 39
The end of the information system life
Furneaux, B., & Wade, M. R. (2010) · ACM SIGMIS Database the DATABASE for Advances in Information Systems · doi:10.1145/1795377.1795381 · Cited by 44
System dynamics and innovation in food networks
Fritz, M., & Schiefer, G. W. (2009) · British Food Journal · doi:10.1108/bfj.2009.070111haa.001 · Cited by 39
Rerup, C., & Levinthal, D. A. (2013) · CSR, sustainability, ethics & governance · doi:10.1007/978-3-642-38694-7_3 · Cited by 43
Gullmark, P., & Clausen, T. H. (2023) · International Public Management Journal · doi:10.1080/10967494.2022.2157917 · Cited by 46
Metadata
- Authors
- van de Ven, A. H., & Poole, M. S.
- Affiliations
- Texas A&M University (US)
- Venue
- The Academy of Management Review
- Publisher
- Academy of Management
- Published
- 1995-07
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 510
- ISSN
- 0363-7425 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2148940838
- Cited by
- 3,762
- References
- 91
- Citations by year
- 2026: 100 · 2025: 103 · 2024: 133 · 2023: 125 · 2022: 143 · 2021: 191 · 2020: 201 · 2019: 151 · 2018: 174 · 2017: 177 · 2016: 171 · 2015: 183 · 2014: 193 · 2013: 200 · 2012: 201
- FWCI
- 29.95
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Academy of Management Review (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Organizational Change and Leadership
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Organizational Management and Change
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Management and Organizational Studies
- Keywords
- organizational change, organizational development, life cycle theory, teleology, dialectics, evolution, organizational theory, change processes, levels of organization
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
